Magnetic lid lifter



Filed Aug. 6, 1956 A d 52 n 30 2/ll A 'Mnl/libwww, n, l rl 'f l 30 V 'l 'f l /NVEA/TOR: IRA P. RHODES,-

HTToRA/Es United States Patent O MAGNETIC Ln) LrrrER Ira P. Rhodes, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to SWing-A-Way Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Aug. 6, 1956, Ser. No. 602,159

3 Claims. (Cl. 317-159) The present invention relates generally to magnetic lifting devices, and more particularly to a novel magnetic 2,963,629 Patented Dec. 6, 1960 ICC by means of a rivet 12 to a horizontal flange or guide 14 on a well known type of wall mounted can opener 16. The illustrated can opener 16 comprises a frame 20 upon which is slidably mounted a carrier 22 adapted to be moved relative to the frame 20 upon rotation of a lever 24. A crank 26 is connected to a feed wheel (not shown) lid lifter adapted for use in combination with a mechanical can opener.

. Briefly, the invention contemplates `an improved magnetic lid lifter comprising an encased block magnet resiliently supported by a cantilever arm adapted for securement to a conventional can opener.

, It is a general object ofthe present invention to provide an improved magnetic lid lifter which eliminates certain undesirable features in previously known lid litters.

It is a more specific object of the invention to provide a novel magnetic lid lifter in which the magnetic element is encased in a movable cover assembly.

i `It is another object of the invention to provide a novel magnetic lid lifter having a resiliently mounted magnet assembly arranged for direct engagement of a magnet with a lid to be lifted.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel magnetic lid lifter having an enclosed spring for resilient support of a magnet assembly from a cantilever arm.

It is another object of the invention to provide a novel magnetic lid lifter in which an encased magnet is supported so as to enable it to conform to the usual tipped position of a can lid at the moment of final severance, thereby to lessen the possibility of pulling the lid from the lifter at the moment of maximum holding strain.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a novelmagnetic lid lifter having relatively few parts, each part being adapted to relatively inexpensive mass production, which is easily assembled into -a neat and compact device, automatic in its action, and which has an inherent long life.

The foregoing, along with additional objects and advantages, will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a magnetic lid lifter constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, Iand shown in attachment with a mechanical can opener of known type in the process of severing a lid from a can;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary, vertical, sectional view taken generally along the line 2-2 of Figure 1 so as to show the magnet assembly in end elevation;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken gener-ally along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, and showing the magnet assembly engaging a can lid;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an elevational view of la removed magnetic lid lifter as it appears from the supported side;

Figure 6 is an enlarged vertical section taken generally along the line 6--6 of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the removed mag-` rotatably mounted on a lower portion of the frame 20 and adapted to cooperate in conventional overlapping relation with a cutter disc 28 rotatably mounted on the carrier 22 in severing a lid L from a can C.

The magnetic lid lifter 10 comprises a magnet assembly 30 and a resilient support assembly 32 secured together in a manner to be explained hereinafter. Considering first the magnet assembly 30, a magnet case 34 is formed from non-magnetic material, such as polystyrene, for eX- ample, to the shape of a shallow rectangular box having one open face, as clearly illustrated in the drawing. An upper horizontal panel 36 of the box-like case 34 has an integral upstanding post 38 located centrally thereof. In addition, the upper surface of the panel 36 has a shallow, rectangular recess 40 which is symmetrical with respect both to the panel 36 and the post 3S.

As is evident from the drawing, the case 34 defines a rectangular cavity 42 in which is received a block magnet 44 substantially equal in size and shape to the cavity 42. The magnet 44, of well known permanent magnetic material, such as Indox l, or the like, has one pole face 46 coincident with the open face of the case 34 and another pole face 48 contiguous with the lower face of the panel 36. VThe magnet 44 also has a central countersunk aperture 50 through which is inserted a athead screw 52 for threaded engagement with the panel 36 and its surmounting post 38.

The support assembly 32, by means of which the magnet assembly 30 is supported from thepcan opener 16, includes an arm 54, a helical compression spring 56, and a spring housing 58. The arm 54 may take any suitable shape, such as the offset shape illustrated best in Figures 4 through 7 of the drawing, and is provided at one end with an zaperture 60 of sufficient size for loosely accommodating the post 38. An aperture 62 is provided at the other end of the arm 54 for receiving the mounting rivet 12. The spring 56 is also disposed over the post 38 so as to rest upon the arm 54 and is retained in a partially compressed state by an annular shoulder 64 formed within the spring housing 58. As is clear from the drawing, and particularly from Figures 3, 4 and 6 thereof, the spring housing 58 is generally box-like in form and has, in addition to an open bottom face, a side aperture 66 for free accommodation of the arm 54. The housing 58 is preferably formed from the same type material as the casing 34 and has a lower rim 68 which tits snugly within the recess 40 of the casing 34. With the parts assembled as illustrated in the drawing, the support assembly 32 is secured to the magnet assembly 30 by cementing the rim 68 within the recess 40. If desired, the upper end of the post 38 may also be cemented to the annular l shoulder 64 with which it engages.

Operation As previously indicated, the magnetic lid lifter 10 is preferably employed in conjunction with a can opener of conventional type, such as the can opener 16 illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. The conventional can rim supporting function along with the overlapping relation of the feed wheel (not shown) and the cutter disc 28 when the lever 24 is in the position of Figure 1, provide effective support for the weight of the can C and the contents thereof. At the same time, the can C is rotatably maintained in a vertical position by lateral abutment of its side with a conventional, horizontally disposed can guide ange (not shown) of the frame 20,

and by vertical -abutmentof its upper rim with the underneath surface of the can top guide bracket 14. A rim guide bracket 70 mounted on the carrier 22 serves to prevent the can from pivoting laterally about its area of engagement with the cutter disc 2S.

With aV can such as C supported as above-described,

` the magnet assembly will be in position immediately above the lid L of the can C, so that the attractive force of the magnet assembly 30 upon the lid L causes the former to descend against the action of -the spring 56 until the pole 46 of the magnet 44 is brought into substantially flush engagement with the lid L. This is clearly illustrated in Figures 2 through 4 of the drawing. As the crank 26 is turned, the rotating feed wheel causes the can `C to rotate upon its vertical axis, the cutter disc 28 thereby shearing the lid L from the can C, the face 46 of the magnet 44 meanwhile remaining in continuous sliding contact with -the lid L.

At the moment of complete severance of the lid L from the can C, the normal rearwardly downward tipping of the lid L causes a maximum strain upon the holding power of the magnet assembly 30, which is, in part, accommodated by the flexible supporting arrangement above-describedl allowing the magnet assembly 30 to assume a slanting position. Upon complete severance of the lid L, however, the spring 56 is effective to withdraw both the magnet assembly 30 and the attracted lid L upwardly from the can C, so that the latter may be removed from the can opener 16 Without the lid L. Thereafter, the lid L may be either pulled or slipped from the attraction of the magnet assembly 30.

lt will be observed that, with the exception of the aperture 66 which yaccommodates the support arm 54, the lid lifter 10 is substantially free of crevices or cavities which might accumulate dirt, food particles, and the like. The opening 66 is itself in such position that there is little likelihood of contamination entering at this' point. Thus, the magnetic lid lifter 10 may be kept in clean and serviceable condition by an occasional wiping with a damp cloth.

Clearly, there has been disclosed a magnetic lid lifter which fuliills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given only by way of illustration and example. It is to be further understood that changes involving the form and arrangement of parts, and the substitution of equivalent elements, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

What is claimed is:

l. A magnetic lid lifter for a can opener, said lifter comprising a permanent magnet of block-like form having a planar pole face, a non-magnetic box-like case having an open lower face enclosing all but the planar pole face of said magnet, said case having an integral upstanding post of upwardly decreasing cross section extending thereabove, a rigid supporting arm having an aperture adjacent one end loosely receiving said post at its greatest cross section, and means comprising a helical spring disposed about said post so as to rest upon said arm and means capping said post so as to retain said spring in partially compressed condition for supporting said encased magnet in upwardly biased relation to said arm, said casing and magnet being vertically and pivotally movable in respect to said arm.

2. The lid lifter of claim 1 wherein the capping means `takes the form of a box-like housing disposed in surmounting relation with respect to the aforesaid case and which is effective to enclose the aforesaid post and spring, said housing having a side aperture for movably accommodating the supporting arm.

3. A magnetic lid lifter for a can opener, said lifter comprising an inverted open box-like non-magnetic magnet casing, an upstanding post mounted on and integral with said casing and in surmounting symmetrical relationship therewith, said post being frustoconical in configuration, a helical spring disposed about said post, means maintaining the upper end of said spring against removal from said post, a supporting arm having an aperture in one end of a size to surround said post at its largest crosssection, said arm aperture being disposed about said post between the bottom of said spring and the top of said casing permitting vertical and pivotal movement of said casing, a permanent magnet having a central aperture therein disposed in said casing, and a headed fastener inserted through said magnet and easing and into said post securing said magnet in said casing.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,489,475 Blind Nov. 29, 1949 2,554,628 Mesik May 29, 1951 2,617,185 Lehmann et al Nov. l1, 1952 2,736,091 Moore Feb. 28, 1956 2,739,378 Moore Mar. 27, 1956 2,772,381 Rhodes Nov. 27, 1956 2,786,703 Teetor Mar. 26, 1957 2,828,762 Swank Apr. 1, 1958 

